trap.

 

Just outside Ophir, 20 minutes later,

 

Team Nome stopped at the small wooden road sign. It was simply an arrow pointing in the direction the teams should go. Balto changed back into his dog form, and did the same to Brent, getting back into his harness when he was done. Brent snored deeply, still fast asleep. Balto looked at the sign. It pointed to the right. Balto turned to his team and yelled, ‘’mush!’’

Team Nome ran to the right, unaware that the real sign was hidden under the snow. Inferno poked his head out from the left track. He smiled with satisfaction.

‘’That’ll keep them out of my hair.’’ He thought to himself as his team ran down the left track.

 

Near the town of Cripple, Alaska, 4:35 pm,

 

Balto stopped the team just outside of the town known as Cripple. Something didn’t smell right. He then looked ahead, and saw about eleven of the teams in that town. But where was Team Inferno? Balto then realized what had happened. It was too late to turn back now, so the only option was to keep going ahead. Balto was about to get the team going, when Brent awoke from inside his sled. He shook the sleep from his eyes and stepped out of the Snow-shredder.

‘’What happened?’’ he asked, yawning as he did so.

‘’It appears that Inferno must have cheated.’’ Kaltag replied. Nikki grunted.

‘’But how could he cheat if dere are officials around?’’ he asked.

‘’This part of the race course up until the town of Kaltag is unmonitored. Kaltag’s the next checkpoint. This part of the course is just to act as a place to get supplies and stuff.’’ Brent explained. Balto scratched his chin.

‘’So Inferno can cheat without getting in trouble, huh? I think I have an idea,’’ Balto then turned to Brent, ‘’Brent, what would the shortest distance from here to Kaltag be?’’

‘’A straight line. Why do you ask?’’ Brent questioned. Balto smiled.

‘’Oh no. Oh no no no no no. Don’t even think about it Balto!’’

But too late. Balto raced forward, as did the rest of the team. Brent prayed and gripped the sled tightly. Team Nome ran into the dense forest and this time, they had to dodge trees, and other objects. Suddenly, the Snow-shredder slammed against a large tree, throwing Brent onto the snow. Balto stopped and got out of his harness, as did Aleu and Kodi. All three ran over to the professor’s side. Brent sat up and groaned in pain.

‘’Dad, what’s wrong with him?’’ Aleu asked. Balto examined Brent’s injured side.

‘’It looks like he dislocated a rib. We should pop it back into place.’’ Balto answered. But Brent shook his head and got to his feet slowly.

‘’No. I won’t let us lose because of a small injury. I won’t give up.’’ Brent replied between his clutched teeth. Suddenly, a white mist surrounded the four.

‘’We’d better get back to the sled before we get lost.’’ Kodi replied. But they didn’t know which way to go. Balto then perked up his ears. Something was walking towards them. Balto bared his teeth as the animal slowly started to appear in the mist. Balto was then shocked to see who it was, as were his three friends.

‘’Aniu.’’ He replied softly, still shocked. The white wolf had appeared again, and this time, she spoke in front of Balto and his children.

‘’I came because I saw that you were in danger. I am here to give you aid.’’

Aniu then lifted her paw in Brent’s direction. Brent felt a sharp pain in his rib cage, and then, he felt nothing. He had been cured. Aniu smiled and cleared the mist, leaving a clear path to the Snow-shredder. And just before the team got ready to run again, they were lifted off the ground and place on the path just outside Kaltag. Team Nome ran into the town and got signed in. After a few minutes of rest and some dinner, Team Nome was off again.

 

Checkpoint 25, White Mountain, Alaska,

April 1st, 8:09 am,

 

Team Nome was exhausted by the time they reached White Mountain. Brent got off his sled at the Iditarod office and signed in. The Inuit man behind the corner smiled.

‘’Good news, you guys are in 2nd place. You just have to beat Team Inferno to Nome, and you’ll win. Good luck though. Team Inferno has been the champions for five years straight.’’

‘’Thanks, and I’ll keep that in mind.’’ Brent replied as he got back onto his sled.

‘’Mush! Mush! C’mon guys, we’re in second place! Mush!’’ Brent exclaimed. But the team did not move. Brent examined every dog, but the only one who wasn’t in good shape was Balto. He was tired, and he couldn’t run. Brent made a last minute decision, which would spell either victory or disaster for the team. He un-harnessed Balto and placed him in the sled. Brent then ran around the corner and changed into a dog. Quickly getting into Balto’s harness and yelled “mush!’’

Team Nome ran out of White Mountain, and headed for Safety, the last checkpoint in the race before Nome.

 

Checkpoint 26, Safety, Alaska,

April 1st, 9:45 pm,

 

Brent ran the team into Safety and stopped in front of the office. Balto had recovered now, and he enough strength to continue leading. Brent un-harnessed himself quickly and changed into a human again. Balto got out of the sled and got back into his harness. Brent quickly signed in at Safety and got back onto the sled. There were still tracks from Team Inferno, they weren’t that far away.

‘’Okay guys. Mush!!!’’ Brent yelled as Team Nome, now more hopeful than ever, ran out of Safety, and headed for Nome.

 

One hour later,

 

Balto watched as Team Inferno came into view. They were gaining on them. Suddenly, Brent exclaimed, ‘’Balto! Nome’s in the distance! We’d better get a move on!’’

Balto turned his head back and shouted, ‘’you heard our musher! Let’s pick up the pace!’’

The team barked and sped up. Team Nome was only feet from Team Inferno, and they were slowly shortening the gap between them. Inferno looked back and saw Balto heading his way. He growled and sped up. His team did so as well. But still, Team Nome kept gaining. Finally, Balto and Inferno were neck and neck. And with only three miles to go. Inferno grinned as they saw the three-mile-mark flare lit up the sky.

‘’So wolf-dog. You’re better than I thought. Too bad you won’t live to see us win.’’

Inferno then snapped at Balto’s leg, but somehow, he missed. Balto looked up and saw a white mist floating away. He smiled and sped up even more. Inferno did so as well. Two miles. Both teams were neck and neck. They could both hear the cheers of the crowds, and the announcer calling the action. Just then, Balto heard a voice that he recognized immediately.

‘’Go Balto!’’ it yelled. Balto turned his head toward Boris’ boat. He saw all his friends there, cheering him and Team Nome on. Balto took a deep breath and howled, speeding past Team Inferno in the process.

‘’No!’’ Inferno yelled as he tried to speed up. But his tem was going as fast as they could. Inferno growled as threatened his team. They sped up after Inferno growled like an insane wolf. Team Inferno ran toward Nome. Brent looked behind his sled and saw Inferno running up behind them. The look in his eyes was like nothing Brent had ever seen.

‘’Balto! Team Inferno’s coming up fast. And it looks like Inferno has become insane. He’s foaming at the mouth.’’ He yelled. Balto nodded and used every ounce of strength in his body to get the team up to their highest sped yet. One mile to go. Both teams entered Nome. All the townsfolk were cheering as Team Nome turned the corner and headed for the finish line. Right on their tails was Team Inferno. Balto closed his eyes and ran at top speed, as did the rest of the team. Team Inferno made on last attempt to win. Inferno jumped off the ground and sank his teeth into the Snow-Shredder. 50 feet left to go. Brent turned and saw Inferno latched onto his sled. He rose up a fist and clocked Inferno right between the eyes, forcing him to let go. Inferno flew backward and made the whole team crash. Team Nome burst through the finish line. They had done it. They had won the Iditarod Dog Race. Brent and the rest of the team cheered and howled at their victory. All of Nome cheered loudly, loud enough in fact that Jenna and Boris could hear it loud and clear from the old fishing yacht.

‘’Balto, we did it!’’ Brent exclaimed. Balto nodded as he and the team were lifted off their feet and carried by the townsfolk to the pavilion.

‘’Yes, we sure did.’’ Balto smiled.

 

The Mayor’s office;

Ten minutes later,

 

The Mayor of Nome stood at the pavilion with the 1st place trophies. The mayor shook Brent’s hand, and Balto on the head. He then cleared his throat, getting everyone attention.

‘’I am here today to present the winning team in the Iditarod Dog Race their trophies and awards. And now, without further or do, let me present the winners of the 1948 Iditarod Dog Race, Prof. Brent MacWolf and his lead dog Balto!’’

Brent and Balto walked up to the pavilion and accepted their awards. Balto smiled and

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